Mail-bag label



SOLOMON ANDREWS, OF PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY.`

MAIL-BAG LABEL.

Specification of Letters Patent No. \11,348\, dated J' uly 25, 1854.

T all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, SOLOMON ANDREWS, of Perth Amboy, in the county of Middlesex fand State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Labels for Mail-Bags and` other Uses, denominated Andrews clam-shell label; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,

and eXact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed'drawing, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a front view of the label and i portion of strap to which it is attached.`

Fig. 2, is a transverse section on line Fig. l. y

Similarletters of reference in the several figures denote the same part.

The nature of my invention consists in the formation of a label by joining together two pieces of raised metal or other suitable material, having the superscriptions on the convex sides, and open at both ends so as to admit a strap or chain to pass through it,`

and capable of being reversed as will be hereinafter set forth. g

`To enable others skilled -in the art `to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the drawing L represents the label composed of the two parts, a and' b both formed in the same die,\and joined together by the rivets c, so as to leave between the shells the opening d for the passage of the strap.

S represents the strap, and C C two of the loops through which said strap passes to secure the mouth of the bag, as described in Henry Johnsons patent of April 25th 1846; this label being designed for use on bags of that construction, though equally applicable to employment in an infinite variety of situations. The letters forming the inscription may be either sunk or raised, and the color of the ground should differ as much as'possible from that of` the letters, the contrast giving legibility to the inscription. Raised letters will be kept bright by attrition on the bag, and sunken letters rendered distinct, by the brightness of the ground from the same `cause contrast-ing with the blackened letters. The plate may be made of white metal on an ironshell and the letters sunk in the plate, which will make a very distinct inscriptioni `Grutta percha may be used, or any other substance which will combine cheapness with the requisite durability.

The operation of my improved label is as follows-The strap S is passed through the opening CZ of the label as the mouth of the bag is being secured, so that the label shall lie flat upon the `bag. between the loops C C with the side `bearing the destination of the bag uppermost; the other inscription being `in contact with the bag and completely hid,

and the form of the opening lcl being such as to preclude the possibility of the turning of the label upon the strap. I/Vhen the bag is returned to the first ofIice, the label is placed upon the strap in the reverse position from what it now has, so as to bring the hidden inscription uppermost.

This label when once correctly attached can never be removed without mutilating the strap, and can never be rendered illegible by any of the accidents which may efface inscriptions on leather or wood. In fact the ordinary wear by attrition only serves to render the contrast `between the letters and ground more decided, and therefore precludes the possibility of a mistake as t-o the destination of the bag.

A flat chainV may be used for securing the bag, and the shells be so formed :as to slip on the chain. In fact this label may be used in a variety of situations, in each of which the details of attachment will be governed by the circumstances of the case.

I disclaim a hinge, or any other adaptation to motion of the two parts of the label upon each other. Also the stamping of the two sides of the strap as in ordinary mail bags.

What I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A label formed of two distinct parts and riveted or firmly secured together having the superscription on the outside, and open at both ends to admit a chain or strap to pass through it as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name before two subscribing wit nesses.

SOLOMON ANDREWS. Witnesses:

ROBT FREEMAN, JOI-IN D. SEE. 

